I am trying to think of very basic stuff I can do to save a lil bit of time...like cleaning and washing the car...iced intake...is the air filter worth taking out?

 

you can a a less restrictive filter if any thing or put on a cai but dont run without your filter at all!!

 

I personally woudlnt do it, but i've seen many people do it at the track, and i'm not sure if it gives you any sort of increase. I wouldnt want to risk the engine damage.

 

I drove w/o the air filter for 2 minutes one time. It was great! The exhaust Was LOUD! It sounded really deep. Must have gaind 20 HP!

 

is it stock paper?

Might help... on my CAI though I have expereinced more nights wtih losses then gains. Which is wierd.

I once even rigged up a scoop with no filtre ran bad times, took it out off and put filter back on ran .3 better, consistenly.

As long as your track isn't too dusty I would not worry to much. Just keep up on your oil changes.

 

GM High Tech Performance tested the Camaro V6 at the drag strip with the filter off. I've highligthed the specs and results.

215mm tires, an open 3.08 differential. You should be aiming for 15.3

 

i took mine out at the track and got a little gain(but i have an ss hood and airbox) on a normal intake i dont know if it would make much of a difference. i would definately pull that belt off though.

 

Jsut warning about pulling the belt, my motor at WOT heats up almost as quick as my tach goes.

I never ran it at the track, but I did abotu an 1/8th mile pass, it is AWESOME! but I do not trust a full 1/4, yet alone a full 1/4 plus burnout and and getting the car off the track so you can put the belt on to get your timeslip. I don't rember how the belt setup is on a 3.8L but maybe you can run a short belt to run the crank and waterpump only?

I cannot do that since I have 3.4L and the crank runs opposite the waterpump. If I did my waterpump would run in reverse, and cause some havoc.

 

I ran without the air filter and got maybe .05 tenths faster.

 

On my '93 3.4 A4, I've found it to be worth .1-1.5 or so to remove the whole air cleaner assembly and just run the TB wide open. I've verified this a few times on back to back runs. I also found that the TB bypass and gutting the cat to be worth .2 I haven't tried no belt or a short belt yet but I'm planning it soon. My car went 16.5 the first time I ran it and I've got it down to 16.11 with free stuff, no aftermarket parts, stock exhaust. I think with the short or no belt I can get it to run 15's, all stock parts. I also cut out the center of the thermostat so it circulates all the time and have the foglight switch is now controlling the cooling fan (I don't have foglights anymore). One other thing I did is pull both bumper supports and the pass side airbag and module, raceweight is 3260 w/ driver, all interior is still there. I plan on getting rid of the ABS module soon too. It's still a really slow car no matter what, but I've had fun messing with it. I have another car that's fast.

 

Even though the chance of getting something into the engine is small, I wouldn't risk it personally. Is the negligible gain worth risking major engine damage? It is up to you.

-Adam

 

Ive probably ran my car without a filter for a couple thousand miles LOL.... it happend on accident.

but I tested this out on a 96 Z28 last week, dynoed a K&N FIPK at 305 rwhp and hten took the filter off of it and it dyoned 311 rwhp, didn't gain any tq, but 6 rwhp! the FIPK was also brand spakin new!

 

I wouldn't run the risk.

 

well i was thinkin if there is a gain maybe jsut take it off and run a screen across the hole just so nothing big can get in there??? i dunno if that would be smart and also it would have to be clamped so it dont get sucked in that would suck